CHESTER — The number of new COVID-19 cases in Randolph County, Illinois has more than doubled in the latest health department report and there has been one additional death.
The county’s health department reported 48 new cases as of Friday, compared with 20 new cases on Wednesday. The death toll is rising to 104.
That brings the total number of active cases in the county to 95. One patient is hospitalized.
There have been 6,170 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 5,971 recoveries.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Randolph County has a red or high level of community transmission and advises “Everyone in Randolph County, Illinois should wear a mask in public, indoor settings.”
It reports 47.03 percent of the Randolph County population is fully vaccinated. That compares with 63.98 percent statewide.
Please call Health Department at (618) 826-5007 to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 or a seasonal flu vaccination.
OMICRON Variant
Information regarding the variant can be found at https://search.cdc.gov/search/?query=omicron&dpage=1
CDC is releasing updated predictions from genomic sequencing that shows Omicron is now the dominant variant representing approximately 73 percent of cases nationwide. In Regions 2, 4, 5, 6, and 10, Omicron is over 90 percent of cases. This sharp rise in Omicron was expected and is similar to what has been seen worldwide.
We know layered prevention strategies can slow the spread of COVID-19:
- Get vaccinated
- Get boosted
- Wear masks in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status
- Consider taking a COVID-19 at home test prior to gathering with others over the Holidays
For more information regarding the Omicron Variant click on the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/mathematical-modeling-outbreak.html
VACCINE CLINICS
Please call Health Department at (618) 826-5007 to schedule an appointment.
We are administering the first, second, third for five years and older as well as Booster doses of the COVID vaccine.
CoVID-19 Vaccine Clinics:
- Thursday, December 23rd – Pfizer, Moderna and J&J – Adult (8:00am – 4:00pm)
- Wednesday, December, 29th – Pfizer PEDIATRIC (2:00-4:00)
- Thursday, January, 6th – Pfizer, Moderna and J&J – Adult (8:00 am– 4:00pm)
- Tuesday, January 11th – Pfizer, Moderna and J&J – Adult (8:00 am – 4:00pm)
Community Vaccination Clinics in Illinois: The following link provides a map of currently planned community partner clinics and a full list that can be sorted by column header.
“Find a Community Partner Vaccination Clinic In Your Area.”.
Vaccine information:
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System: www.vaers.hhs.gov
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
IDPH: https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq.html
Contact Tracing and Case Investigation Process Updates:
On Tuesday, December 28th, 2021 the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Surge Center will assume all contact tracing duties thus removing the responsibility from Local Health Departments.
If you test positive for COVID-19 please self-isolate until you are contacted by the IDPH Surge Center.
The Randolph County Health Department will not contact you as access to any information will be limited. The Randolph County Health Department will not impose isolation or quarantine and will not issue any documentation relating to isolation and quarantine as that information will also come from the Contact Tracing surge Center.
All test results will be sent to the state for processing and cases will be assigned to a case investigator at the state level. The positive case will be contacted via phone or text message stating “The Illinois Department of Public Health has important information for you”.
The Randolph County Health Department will remain available to schools, Long term care facilities and other congregate settings to provide direction based on the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines.
Starting today statistics will be available at the following website: